Lately I've been feeling like I've been playing more of the types of games that people play with one another's emotions. Which is not to say I've been playing them with malice or playing them frivolously. I'm just more aware that we all play some sort of game with each other. Most of the time it is just emotional "keep away". We all need to feel safe. Often that is just what keeps us from playing the fun sort of games we all want to play. Sometimes I hear friends complain that they've been too busy working. I wonder when they will just get fed up and do something about the lack of emotion in their lives.

Then wonderful things happen, you finally connect with someone you've spent a lot of thought with. You stop feeling like you're playing at anything and you realize how much you've spent your time playing half-heartedly. At the same time, you realize that you are out of practise with the games that two people play. You only have your confidence that you can play fair within a friendship and that it extends to other aspects of your life. Everything is connected, after all.

I've not been playing much of anything lately...playing music CDs, I guess. One little note, last weekend, my friend Nancy gave me eight packs of the original Vampire:The Eternal Struggle cards for my birthday. There were a couple of things I don't remember having, so I was very happy to be the recipient of her gift. We haven't played a game in over a year though. I still want to play with the new edition from White Wolf...don't have that much interest to organize my cards though. Too much work!

I've been trying to avoid wasting time on my computer. Having to look for work in this economic climate is bad enough without my wasting valuable time on an activity that won't pay for itself. At least it hasn't yet. I find myself playing the online games at MSN, especially "Bejeweled". I also recently downloaded RealArcade, a new application from RealAudio which manages and sells downloadable "online" games. Basically these are video games without the packaging. Macromedia has a similar application that saves "shockwaved" games on your computer.

When that isn't enough I play my single player version of "Vampire:The Redemption", a 3-D role-playing type adventure game. Very cool. I've reached a part of the game where I can't advance very quickly. All my vampires are no match for the "boss" monster at the end of the level. I found earlier in the game that it took a bit of luck with some resources planning. I will conquer it eventually.

A while ago I downloaded the demo for Clive Barker's Undying, a very well designed game. It is based on one of the 3D engines, I forget which one right now, but it is very easy to get used to and the game play is very fast. I can really appreciate the speed of my video card with this game, which gives quick smooth movement most of the time. I don't know how far throught the demo I've gotten, but it seems to be a pretty well thoughtout game, only with occasionally difficult monsters to destroy.

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Play...I've always enjoyed strategy games: competition without the chance of getting really hurt I also like puzzles and role-playing so I've been playing those games more. I list demos that I have taken the time to download and play, but I will have to find more time to write about those.

Vampire: The Eternal Struggle—Currently playing via e-mail with friend Rictus in Idaho this card game based on The Masquerade, a vampire themed role-playing system by White Wolf Games. Probably the best "card/combat" game I've ever played. Those people playing Magic don't know what they are missing.

Computer Games

Zork: Nemesis—I picked this one up used for eight bucks. What a bargain, very reminiscent of the old Infocom games but better, with pictures and music. There are two more titles like this that I will definitely have to play.

Sid Meyer's Civilization—Yes, the old DOS version. I have played the newer version but I have to admit I still like the older version even though I purchased Civilization II recently.

Sid Meyer's Railroad Tycoon—Same story here, DOS version still works fine. The new version looks very cool but why buy new when the old one still works?

Temujin—The best thing about this are the complex and often-absurd characterizations of the people in this supernatural "thriller" puzzle adventure. But don't waste your time on this if you don't like adventure type games and poorly thought out interfaces.

Blade Runner—They sure have captured the atmosphere of the Ridley Scott movie by the same name. Unfortunately the added storylines, rather than paying homage to Phillip K. Dick, the author of the book the movie was based on, simply extrapolate on the characters presented in the movie. Hiring too few voice actors to depict the stock characters leave them flat. Good overall presentation that is hindered by slow game play.

Riven—Those guys from Cyan have done it again. An elegant and intricate if not always logical puzzle adventure between the pages of "linking" books.

Toonstruck—For some reason I am stuck early on in the game and I think it’s a glitch in the game engine. I'll try to finish it when I get Windows98 up and running on my machine. Christopher Lloyd and Tim Curry keep this simple adventure puzzle from being too annoying.

Circle of Blood & Smoking Mirror—This "historical" farce begins very well but looses steam throughout the later part of the game. Lots of well rendered graphics, some interesting if not entirely logical puzzles, a bit too much "juvenile" stereotyping and sexism in the characters.

Demos

Caesar III—Very enjoyable but so close to Civilization and Ages of Empires that I wonder if I'd play it once I owned it. Anyone want to give me a copy to find out?

Deadlock—Downloaded this strategy game demo a while ago and I still have it on my drive. Here's a case of the demo being almost too good. I will definitely buy this someday, the question is when?

Hexplore—Not a bad RPG, I just don't know who would pay money to play this so-so game. Lots of repetitive journeys back to health sites so you can keep the characters alive just like Ultima. People! We can do better game design, can't we?

—March 9, 1999